I think we're going to need marrow donations for Japan

[rucky]

Lots of them. Destruction of bone marrow is an effect of radiation exposure. Transplants could save lives.

I don't know of any programs where you can donate to help the victims, but here's what I do know:

http://www.legitgov.org/500-bone-marrow-transplant-centres-Europe-put-standby-treat-victims-Japan">500 bone marrow transplant centres in Europe put on standby to treat victims from Japan

B-blood types and people of Japanese descent are the most likely matches.

The National Marrow Donor Registry has done international efforts before. They make it easy to donate marrow, so it makes sense they would be in the best position to lead the effort from the US. http://www.marrow.org/ (nothing about Japan on their site yet).

Anyway, if you've considered being a marrow donor, now is probably the time. It really is painless.

[FedUpWithIt All]

1. We donated cord blood when our son was born for things like marrow replacement

Is this applicable in a situation with need like Japan will soon have?

[tavalon]

5. Yes!

And thank you, thank you, thank you. As I was finishing my tenure as a labor and delivery nurse, we were just ramping that program up. There is so much cord blood donation can help with. Nowadays, as a NICU nurse, I see the parent's admission forms with cord blood donation checked off more than 40% of the time. There is nothing but good when it comes to that donation program, IMO.

[FedUpWithIt All]

6. I am really glad to hear such high numbers.

I asked about donating 12 years ago when my youngest daughter was born but was told at the time they didn't have regular storage and the donations could only be done at private storage and at the expense of the patient for their own use.

I was thrilled when i saw that it was possible 3 years ago and immediately signed up. They tested and determined that is was acceptable so we were pretty happy.

And thank YOU for doing what you do ;)

[marions ghost]

2. thanx

4 people in my family are type B. I will forward this.

[Lyric]

3. I encourage this, and have done so myself.

My Mom had acute myelogenous leukemia, and we all donated marrow because we thought she might need a bone marrow transplant. She wound up just getting a stem cell transplant (and was cured!), but we were glad to do it anyway.

However, we did it before the new "get the cells from your blood" technique was developed, so believe me...it DID hurt. They drilled a hole in my hip. I felt like I'd been beaten with a sledgehammer for a week afterward. However, that's no longer necessary. They give you a medication now that makes your body produce lots of extra stem cells and then harvest those through your blood. It takes a few hours, but it's no more painful than a regular IV.

[BadgerKid]

4. Slight tangent: Blood types around the world

http://anthro.palomar.edu/vary/vary_3.htm

My guess would be that matching blood types is necessary but insufficient for marrow matches.

[Igel]

8. Indeed.

In the US the bone marrow transplant frequency has varied a lot by ethnicity. More European-Americans than Latinos or African-Americans were in the registry; there was a push a couple of years ago to enroll more minorities, I don't know how successful they were.

Asians, IIRC, did okay in the US. Enough volunteers to not be underrepresented.

Best bet is still a family member, but even that often doesn't work out. Ethnic groups tend to find more matches within their ethnicity than without; racial groups tend to find more matches within their race than without.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

7. Folks should also know it's easy to get added to the registry.

Here in Houston, if you give blood through the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center you have the option of getting your blood typed and added to the marrow registry. I would expect other places that do blood donations would have a similar setup.

I happen to have a good supply of B-negative blood, and a pelvis just brimming with what I can only assume is excellent marrow. Anyone who matches me may have all I am allowed to give.

[Paper Roses]

9. How long is the donor disabled after a bone marrow transplant?

It seems a petty question but is very relevant to me. I am B+ and would be willing to donate. After 2 years, I finally found a part time job. I cannot afford to jeopardize this situation. Who pays for the hospital bills? I am broke...to put it mildly. Is 68 too old?